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A review by leilani_l
Salt by Liz Shipton
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Like many others, I wanted so badly to love this book. Unfortunately, I found it lackluster and had parts I felt I didn't want to continue onto the future books
First the good:
1) one of the best parts is the author's handling of the MC's relationship with alcohol. I felt it was one of the most grounded/realistic parts of the novel.
2) the setting is fun. It's interesting and I want more types of books with these ideas! Futuristic pirates!
The meh:
1) the pacing was quick to the point that I felt the plot points were more happenstance/jumping from one to another without a lot of cohesion or feeling of the protag pushing the plot forward. Things happened to her. She didn't advance the plot imo
2) the MC. I understand she is meant to be flawed and it is clear throughout the series she is meant to grow, but I found her constant lack of skills and constant bad decision making unrealistic for her age (yes, teenagers do risky things sometimes. But i don't find her behaviours representative of the vast majority of teens) and life circumstance. I wanted to root for her and I didn't get enough to do that. People can be flawed and also sometimes have useful skills.
The bad:
1) this series was a "don't keep reading" partially because of the consent issues. I don't consider the smut consensual (you can get a version without it though). It's also made clear that the love interest is non-white Hispanic (in a future society way) and the MC is white. At times, especially because of their constant bickering, the relationship felt all physical, with which the racial dynamics (which are even mentioned) it felt like fetishization. Especially with her classic white girl issue moments (I.e. "I never saw you as... )
I got the sense the author was intentionally making her challenge the way she viewed race, but that the physical fetishization wasn't intentional because it wasn't challenged and supposed to be part of the spice.
All in all, I may give this author another try in the future but I won't pick back up this series.
First the good:
1) one of the best parts is the author's handling of the MC's relationship with alcohol. I felt it was one of the most grounded/realistic parts of the novel.
2) the setting is fun. It's interesting and I want more types of books with these ideas! Futuristic pirates!
The meh:
1) the pacing was quick to the point that I felt the plot points were more happenstance/jumping from one to another without a lot of cohesion or feeling of the protag pushing the plot forward. Things happened to her. She didn't advance the plot imo
2) the MC. I understand she is meant to be flawed and it is clear throughout the series she is meant to grow, but I found her constant lack of skills and constant bad decision making unrealistic for her age (yes, teenagers do risky things sometimes. But i don't find her behaviours representative of the vast majority of teens) and life circumstance. I wanted to root for her and I didn't get enough to do that. People can be flawed and also sometimes have useful skills.
The bad:
1) this series was a "don't keep reading" partially because of the consent issues. I don't consider the smut consensual (you can get a version without it though). It's also made clear that the love interest is non-white Hispanic (in a future society way) and the MC is white. At times, especially because of their constant bickering, the relationship felt all physical, with which the racial dynamics (which are even mentioned) it felt like fetishization. Especially with her classic white girl issue moments (I.e. "I never saw you as... )
I got the sense the author was intentionally making her challenge the way she viewed race, but that the physical fetishization wasn't intentional because it wasn't challenged and supposed to be part of the spice.
All in all, I may give this author another try in the future but I won't pick back up this series.